Japan urges Myanmar to improve refugee plan

International Desk: Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Kono said he asked the Myanmar government to improve the repatriation plan for Rakhine State refugees who have fled to Bangladesh.

He made the request during a meeting with State Counsellor and Foreign Affairs Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday, he told a press conference afterwards. “I asked the Myanmar government to implement and to keep enhancing the repatriation plan,” Kono said.

The meeting at the Foreign Affairs Minister’s office featured discussions on Rakhine and other matters, including refugee camps in Myanmar, he said.

“I told her the refugee camps are in a very difficult situation and that Japan would support Myanmar as much as it can,” he said. He said it is important for an independent investigation body formed by Myanmar to carry out its work transparently.

The State Counsellor said she appreciated Japan’s help as a friendly nation regarding Rakhine.

“The migrant-related problems are mainly to be settled between Myanmar and Bangladesh, but I appreciate the goodwill of other nations that want to help us,” she said.

Japan expects to achieve positive things, as the Myanmar government, including the investigation teams, make the necessary preparations to accept the returnees from Bangladesh. “I hope the migrants can return via this effort,” Kono said.

Myanmar is in a difficult time that Japan has already faced, so I hope the Japanese people will feel sympathetic towards the Myanmar people, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.